FCPS is turning the new high school purchased to fix crowding into an Aviation magnet school instead of a high school??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t find the plans for the KAA school. When is it opening and who is going there? Is there a website that has that info? Tia.

Nobody knows yet. The only thing the SB has planned is the timeline on picking a name for the school.

Thanks. That’s frustrating. When will we know what the school is going to do? I do not care about the school name.

Still unknown at this point. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any more work sessions or meetings schedule to take place regarding it. At first they said it was going to open next school year, but I doubt that is going to happen. There still needs to be some work done on the interior of the building, and no plans have been presented for that yet.

I don't think any work is required at all to support opening as a 9-10 school as currently planned. There is plenty of capacity as-is for that. They have a whole year to partition the giant rooms used for younger kids into more suitably sized spaces. What renovations are you claiming are necessary to open for 9th and 10th graders next year?

So you want this school to open as a work site with only two grades, limited academics, and limited athletics? Why do you think others would prefer this to their current 9-12 schools?

All the schools in the renovation queue have been operated while much more expansive and invasive work was being done rather than just adding some partition walls. You're grasping.

They are 9-12 high schools, not schools limited to two grades. You seem certain that people want their kids at a 9-10 school next year that won’t be able to offer what other schools do. Maybe yes, maybe no. And we have no idea whether the required work will be limited to “just adding some partition walls.”

[Anonymous]

No FCPS school has opened without Varsity sports in 40+ years. Not sure how you could require kids to attend a school without Varsity athletics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No FCPS school has opened without Varsity sports in 40+ years. Not sure how you could require kids to attend a school without Varsity athletics.

Hey, it’s Michelle Reid’s world, and you’re just living in it.

Remember, together, all things are possible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schooly McSchoolFace

Please please please call it this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t find the plans for the KAA school. When is it opening and who is going there? Is there a website that has that info? Tia.

Nobody knows yet. The only thing the SB has planned is the timeline on picking a name for the school.

Thanks. That’s frustrating. When will we know what the school is going to do? I do not care about the school name.

Still unknown at this point. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any more work sessions or meetings schedule to take place regarding it. At first they said it was going to open next school year, but I doubt that is going to happen. There still needs to be some work done on the interior of the building, and no plans have been presented for that yet.

There is another work session scheduled for 10/7 to discuss the programming for the school, so that will be a further discussion as to whether it will be a neighborhood school, a magnet, or some type of hybrid. The programming is also planned as a New Business item for the SB meeting on 10/23 and an Action Item on 11/13. They plan to take up the name again in December and January, with the new name to be voted on at the same meeting in January 2026 as they approve the county-wide boundary changes.

This is all noted in the work calendar posted in Board Docs.

Thanks! I hadn't checked the calendar recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t find the plans for the KAA school. When is it opening and who is going there? Is there a website that has that info? Tia.

Nobody knows yet. The only thing the SB has planned is the timeline on picking a name for the school.

Thanks. That’s frustrating. When will we know what the school is going to do? I do not care about the school name.

Still unknown at this point. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any more work sessions or meetings schedule to take place regarding it. At first they said it was going to open next school year, but I doubt that is going to happen. There still needs to be some work done on the interior of the building, and no plans have been presented for that yet.

There is another work session scheduled for 10/7 to discuss the programming for the school, so that will be a further discussion as to whether it will be a neighborhood school, a magnet, or some type of hybrid. The programming is also planned as a New Business item for the SB meeting on 10/23 and an Action Item on 11/13. They plan to take up the name again in December and January, with the new name to be voted on at the same meeting in January 2026 as they approve the county-wide boundary changes.

This is all noted in the work calendar posted in Board Docs.

Thanks! I hadn't checked the calendar recently.

You’re welcome. It’s good to see they are now planning to focus on the programming before the name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t find the plans for the KAA school. When is it opening and who is going there? Is there a website that has that info? Tia.

Nobody knows yet. The only thing the SB has planned is the timeline on picking a name for the school.

Thanks. That’s frustrating. When will we know what the school is going to do? I do not care about the school name.

Still unknown at this point. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any more work sessions or meetings schedule to take place regarding it. At first they said it was going to open next school year, but I doubt that is going to happen. There still needs to be some work done on the interior of the building, and no plans have been presented for that yet.

There is another work session scheduled for 10/7 to discuss the programming for the school, so that will be a further discussion as to whether it will be a neighborhood school, a magnet, or some type of hybrid. The programming is also planned as a New Business item for the SB meeting on 10/23 and an Action Item on 11/13. They plan to take up the name again in December and January, with the new name to be voted on at the same meeting in January 2026 as they approve the county-wide boundary changes.

This is all noted in the work calendar posted in Board Docs.

Thanks! I hadn't checked the calendar recently.

You’re welcome. It’s good to see they are now planning to focus on the programming before the name.

The title of the work session is now "New Western High School Programming and Boundaries."

[Anonymous]

I watched today's work session.

From today's meeting, I THINK the decision is for it to be a comprehensive (traditional) high school with defined boundaries. That seems to be the consensus as of today.

However, Reid once again began with all the "possibilities." Looking to the 22nd Century. Moon later mentioned that we are still striving to teach for the 21st century.

There will be a boundary decision process, but not too much said about that. McDaniel mentioned that Oakton and South Lakes should be included in the decision--not just Chantilly, Westfield, and Centreville.
Meren said that her Floris constituents are very interested in staying together as a cohort at KAA (currently split between Westfield and South Lakes.)

Dixit (Sully district) said she would be voting for it to be a comprehensive, traditional high school with defined boundaries and no "outside" students --meaning, I think, no magnet.

Rachna wants to have something special there, but, I think, supports regular high school.

One thing that slipped out when McDaniel mentioned Oakton was that Reid mentioned that Oakton was one of the schools that exceeded their membership expectation this year. Does that mean it is now overcrowded?

Reid was asked about making the decision in line with the boundary review. Vague answer, but said we would include it. We'll see.
(I may be placing my negative opinion on her answer.)

Questions about how much to retrofit. They seem to plan to open next year with 9/10 grade. It does not sound like they've done a lot of planning on the building. This should have begun in June when they purchased it.

Meren was not pleased with the lack of answers.

Once again, Meren and Dr. Anderson seem to be the only ones that came prepared with real questions instead of with stars in their eyes.

[Anonymous]

p.s. vote on comprehensive high school with boundaries will be at November meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched today's work session.

From today's meeting, I THINK the decision is for it to be a comprehensive (traditional) high school with defined boundaries. That seems to be the consensus as of today.

However, Reid once again began with all the "possibilities." Looking to the 22nd Century. Moon later mentioned that we are still striving to teach for the 21st century.

There will be a boundary decision process, but not too much said about that. McDaniel mentioned that Oakton and South Lakes should be included in the decision--not just Chantilly, Westfield, and Centreville.
Meren said that her Floris constituents are very interested in staying together as a cohort at KAA (currently split between Westfield and South Lakes.)

Dixit (Sully district) said she would be voting for it to be a comprehensive, traditional high school with defined boundaries and no "outside" students --meaning, I think, no magnet.

Rachna wants to have something special there, but, I think, supports regular high school.

One thing that slipped out when McDaniel mentioned Oakton was that Reid mentioned that Oakton was one of the schools that exceeded their membership expectation this year. Does that mean it is now overcrowded?

Reid was asked about making the decision in line with the boundary review. Vague answer, but said we would include it. We'll see.
(I may be placing my negative opinion on her answer.)

Questions about how much to retrofit. They seem to plan to open next year with 9/10 grade. It does not sound like they've done a lot of planning on the building. This should have begun in June when they purchased it.

Meren was not pleased with the lack of answers.

Once again, Meren and Dr. Anderson seem to be the only ones that came prepared with real questions instead of with stars in their eyes.

Oakton has a very large freshman class this year - 714 students.

The total enrollment this fall is 2711 students. The latest program capacity is 2645 students.

So, yes, it's now overcrowded. That creates some pressure to move kids out of Oakton, but whether they go to KAA or somewhere else (South Lakes, Madison, etc.) remains to be seen. I believe it was mentioned at today's work session that it would cost an additional $75 million in renovation and expansion costs to get KAA up to 2000 students.

[Anonymous]

^ Just to add, if Oakton is at 102.5% capacity, that's not a level of overcrowding that would have led Thru Consulting to pay any attention to it in the current boundary review. They only focused on schools over 105% of program capacity.

[Anonymous]

So, yes, it's now overcrowded. That creates some pressure to move kids out of Oakton, but whether they go to KAA or somewhere else (South Lakes, Madison, etc.) remains to be seen. I believe it was mentioned at today's work session that it would cost an additional $75 million in renovation and expansion costs to get KAA up to 2000 students.

I heard less than $50 million. To include equipment.

[Anonymous]

I heard something around $50m, it took a lot of prodding to get them to share a high-level estimate for renovations. I bet they sandbagged that $50m number, and it'll end up being more like $75m. Either way, they finally admitted it wouldn't just be the $150m.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard something around $50m, it took a lot of prodding to get them to share a high-level estimate for renovations. I bet they sandbagged that $50m number, and it'll end up being more like $75m. Either way, they finally admitted it wouldn't just be the $150m.

I don't think anyone pretended it would be just $150 million. It is still a bargain. But, I never heard anything near $75 million. And, if it were a business expanding and retrofitting, I bet it would be way less than $50 million.

You do realize that there are start up costs every year in every school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard something around $50m, it took a lot of prodding to get them to share a high-level estimate for renovations. I bet they sandbagged that $50m number, and it'll end up being more like $75m. Either way, they finally admitted it wouldn't just be the $150m.

I don't think anyone pretended it would be just $150 million. It is still a bargain. But, I never heard anything near $75 million. And, if it were a business expanding and retrofitting, I bet it would be way less than $50 million.

You do realize that there are start up costs every year in every school?

The football stadium alone will be at least $10m. It’s gonna be more than $75m